“Our material is the way we feel and the way we remember," wrote poet Muriel Rukeyser. How might we draw on personal, family, and historical narratives in order shape and create our poems? How have poets channeled the particular energies of a political, social, or spiritual moment? What does it mean to "put it all on [or in] the line"? This is a class for writers and poets interested in experimenting and taking risks, while honing their poetic craft. Together, we'll generate new work, discuss it, and read and discuss works by contemporary poets like Natalie Diaz, Douglas Kearney, and Victoria Chang who "use all of their fears" (Rukeyser again) and various forms in order to make poems.